Pilot Programme

Phase One

Thanks to funding secured from the Vice President for Innovation and Performance, 62 students from 4th and 5th classes in primary schools in Galway City took part in a pilot project over six weeks from April-June 2012.

There were four subject offerings with each student taking part in one subject for the duration of the programme.

The four subject offerings were:

• Engineering- Structural, Environmental and Climate Studies
• Italian Language and Culture
• Philosophical Discovery
• Psychology- Who we are, How we think and What we do

On the final week a Certificate and Celebration Ceremony was held where students received certificates on completion of the pilot phase of the Youth Academy. The certificates were presented by Mayor Hildegarde Naughton and the Vice President for Innovation and Performance at NUI Galway, Professor Chris Curtin. Over 300 family members and friends were also in attendance.

Phase Two

Following the success of Phase One of the Youth Academy, further funding was awarded to run a second phase of the programme from December 2012- January 2013.

We listened to recommendations from the evaluation of the first phase and we extended the Youth Academy to seven weeks and added four extra courses to the original four. This meant that we could open the Youth Academy up to schools in Galway County as we had more places on offer. Over 180 people applied for a place on the programme but due to limited numbers not everyone was successful. 134 students took part in eight courses over the seven week programme.

The eight course offerings were:

• Engineering- Structural, Environmental and Climate Studies
• Italian Language and Culture
• Philosophical Discovery
• Psychology- Who we are, How we think and What we do
• Science exploration
• Irish History
• English
• Information Technology

Over 800 people attended the Certificate and Celebration Ceremony on the final day, where certificates of participation were presented to the students by the President of NUI Galway, Dr James Browne.

Phase Three

The third phase of the Youth Academy took place from April-June 2013. 163 students took part in ten courses over the seven week period.

With thanks to further funding received from the Vice President for Innovation and Performance we were able to add two extra courses to the eight from Phase Two. Students who were not successful in securing a place in the last phase were allocated a place this time round.

The ten course offerings were:

• Engineering- Structural, Environmental and Climate Studies
• Italian Language and Culture
• Philosophical Discovery
• Psychology- Who we are, How we think and What we do
• Science exploration
• Irish History
• English
• Information Technology
• Physics
• Mandarin

A Certificate and Celebration Ceremony took place on the final week where certificates of participation were presented to all students by the President of NUI Galway, Dr James Browne. Over 800 families, friends, teachers and principals attended to join in the celebrations.